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Keren Alpert, a prominent American rabbi who endorsed gay marriage and Barack Obama, lied about being a rabbi.

Michigan’s oldest Jewish synagogue hired a fake rabbi (whose credentials it never checked), which is hilarious because it’s a Reformed Temple, and so none of their rabbis are actually real (or know much about Judaism). But even more hilarious is that the place is hiring grief counselors to provide emotional support for adult member of the congregation after the synagogue was forced to fire the fake rabbi. And it gets even more funny from there.

In May, I told you about uber-liberal “Rabbi” Alpert, who delivered the “eulogy” of my late next door neighbor at his funeral. Her “eulogy” consisted of an attack on my poor, dead neighbor and assorted airings of grievances against the guy from his selfish kids who never visited for decades or while the guy was dying of cancer (except on his last day, to claim his property). It was outrageous, and I called this idiotette, “Rabbi,” in quotation marks. Turns out I was more right I was.

Yesterday, Temple Beth El, Michigan’s oldest synagogue, which is now a Temple of Reform Judaism, sent congregants the letter, below, informing them that “Rabbi” Alpert is a liar, that she never went to rabbinical school, and that they were too stupid, too liberal, and too incompetent to do even a modicum of basic verification of her credentials. The fake rabbi (in a fake sect of Judaism filled with fake rabbis who actually did go to their fake rabbinical school) was fired. And now the place is providing upset congregants with grief counselors. HILARIOUS! Grief counselors?! So typically politically correct. So typically liberal.

And you should note that “Rabbi” Alpert put her name on many lists of “Rabbis In Support of” this liberal BS and that liberal BS, from gay marriage (she also put an equal sign as her Facebook icon) to Barack Obama.

I don’t believe in chick rabbis (a creation of liberal Jews to keep their dying congregations of secularists from leaving their hemorrhaging synagogues in droves). As I’ve previously said on this site, “Real Jewish women aren’t rabbis. And real Jewish rabbis aren’t women.” But these liberals who dominate the watered down Judaism-lite that are Reformed and Conservative Judaism believe in this feminist rabbis crap (like I said, they made this up). I once taught Sunday School at Temple Beth El, and most of the kids weren’t even legitimately Jewish. One of the assistant rabbis was originally studying to become a Catholic Priest.

Nevertheless, you would think they would at least check the credentials of the far-left morons they hire. But, apparently, they don’t. And such is the case with “Rabbi” Alpert, who never actually went to rabbinical school (such that anything from Reformed Judaism can actually be called a “rabbinical school”), but lied and pretended she was a rabbi anyway and got hired by Temple Beth El in the swanky Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills. Apparently, the synagogue ain’t into checking credentials. Liberals don’t believe in verifying much of anything (otherwise, why would they have voted for Obama?).

But that’s how the left is. They trust Muslims, Barack Obama, Communists, dictators, criminals, and every other malefactor in society. The only ones they don’t trust are conservatives. Oh, and the Jewish Torah . . . you know, the basis of Judaism and the point in having a synagogue in the first place.

I knew there was a reason (several of ’em) that I call Temple Beth El, “The Bethel Church.”

One other thing: Temple Beth El wants you to know that the Jewish ceremonies and rites performed by “Rabbi Alpert” are perfectly legit, which is also hilarious because real Judaism doesn’t recognize any of the ceremonies and rites performed there. Not even by the Reformed rabbis with “real credentials.”

But, again, that’s Jewish liberals for ya: they’ll believe anything, except if a Republican or conservative is saying it. Or the Torah.

60 Responses

This is why Orthodox Judaism does not recognize Conservative and Reform Judaism as valid.

Once you begin compromising on core Jewish beliefs and religious rituals, you don’t know where it will end.

With Jewish illiteracy, ignorance and assimilation at an all time high in America, you would think non-Orthodox Jews would do teshuva in light of their track record.

Dream on. Keren Alpert’s resignation from Temple Beth El shows how low American Judaism has fallen. And the fact that it puts up with frauds and schucksters shows it has a long way to go to create a secure future for the Jewish people.

At first I thought Debbie had sneaked in an article from the Onion. You can’t make up this stuff. A Candy Crawley look-alike is hired to be a Rabbi-ette whose major qualification is that her true religion is liberal feminism, not Judaism. I imagine that the hiring body of the “Temple” assumed that since they were hiring a female escapee from Weight Watchers to be their “Spiritual leader,” there was no need to check credentials as they were doing the right – or, should I say, left thing. Grief counselors? Another example of liberal frauds. In a town close to where I live, there is a “Reform temple” that meets in a building mainly used by the Unitarian Universalists. Their “spiritual leader” is a chick. I often wonder if they hold joint services to save on the heat and electric bills. As for this “Reform” temple in Michiganistan, I wonder if the old joke holds true…….”This temple is so reformed, it is closed on Jewish Holidays.” Perhaps, in the interest of diversity and multiculturalism, this idiotic Board of Directors will start interviewing burkah clad ladies as the next Rabbi-ette. Surely, that would be the ultimate “Feel good” action to take. They could contact C.A.I.R. for references. The icing on this sad cake for me was the letter from the “President” of the Temple. I noticed that his e-mail address was “Edu.” QED. No surprise here. A suggestion for these “Grieving” souls…….try reading the Torah and skip the “Counselors.” Oops. Probably no Torahs available in this Temple. I imagine that Das Kapital, or Dreams of my Father is their Torah. Another suggestion. Perhaps the esteemed “Reverend” Al Sharpton could fill in as interim spiritual leader is found. If he is booked up, contact Jan Schakowski….or maybe Barbara Boxer. They’d fit in just fine.

First, I never met a female rabbi I liked. All were liberal, all were to a degree anti-Israel, and their loyalty was to radical feminism not to Judaism or to Israel.

I take issue, however, with the critique of conservative Jewish congregations, at least the conservative synagogues of my youth.. When I was young, I went to conservative congregations that were all but orthodox EXCEPT for having men and women pray together. I have also known supposedly orthodox Jews who went to Orthodox synagogues and ate pork at Chinese restaurants. I have known reform rabbis who insist that converts keep a kosher home (although by and large, your criticisms of reform Judaism are correct).

I do note that today, many conservative synagogues are more like reform synagogues. They are politically correct, with female rabbis and gay marriages. That is not the conservative Judaism I grew up with.

I get very confused with these qualifiers of Jewish faith. “Conservative” must be akin to how Conservatives (politically) are in Australia…they are called “Liberals” (of all things…) and Liberals the way we know it are “Labour”.

Wish I knew more. It must be like me, as a Catholic, how I feel when I see Episcopalian Churches or Unitarian or the worst of all…Congregational Churches (with the Rainbow Flags and female clergy)…I roll my eyes and say “Oh Lord, another Liberal church…AVOID IT”.

To be honest, I don’t know how to know if certain Jews are in line with me (politically, as I am Catholic) other than if I hear “Orthodox”. It’s confusing but I know the word “reform” is a key they are not…but what are they reformed from?

Skunky, the Reform movement arose in Germany in the 19th Century. It was an attempt by some in the Jewish community to embrace modernity. After the French Revolution, there was greater tolerance, at least for a while, in Europe towards Jews, although it had its ups and downs in the 19th century, but the overall trend was towards acceptance, at least for a while. Because of this acceptance, Jews were able to become involved more in general non-Jewish society. They reformed from the traditional Orthodox practices that had been carried on for thousands of years.

The Reform movement went to assimilationist extremes in its desire to be accepted by German (and later U.S.) society as a whole, and many in the Reform movement ultimately converted to Christianity, and/or rejected Jewish customs and traditions. This happened in the U.S. too. The Conservative movement was a reaction to this assimilationist trend, initially, also in Germany — an attempt to move closer to traditional Judaism without going all the way back to the traditional Orthodox practices that Jewry had embraced for centuries and centuries. It took hold in the U.S. too. It branched off from Reform Judaism, and preserved more of the traditional practices, and also attracted some Orthodox Jews.

This is why there are a couple of comments here from people who grew up in a Conservative environment, and noted that the customs they grew up with were fairly close to Orthodox.

As it happened though, Reform Judaism, always weak in its observance of Jewish tradition, succumbed completely to political correctness in the last few decades, and the Conservative movement followed right behind it.

Also, in general, Orthodox Jews are more conservative politically than Reform or Orthodox, and many of them vote Republican, although, of course, not all of them.

Among the Reform and Conservative, as I’m sure you know, the politics are overwhelmingly liberal.

Also, as an aside, a very large number of Reform Jews were opposed to the Zionist movement which eventually became Israel. Their rationale was that Jews should try to become more accepted in the U.S. and Europe, and advocating the formation of an Israeli State would prevent this. Of course, with the Holocaust, many Reform Jews changed their position, at least for a while, before becoming eventually consumed again by political correctness in the 60s. The hostility of many Reform (and ultimately a number of Conservative Jews) towards Israel had its inception, in large part, in the 1967 War, when Israel was forced to govern certain territories for defensive purposes. This was, of course, condemned by the Left.

You can’t make up this stuff. Truth is stranger than fiction. The “Board” of this temple is running newspaper ads for a new “Spiritual leader.” In the interest of diversity, multiculturalism and affirmative action, the newspaper ad stresses that transvestites are welcome to apply……..no physical exam required.

HA! I met a female “rabbi” on the Metro North train from Stamford to Grand Central Station one morning who was wearing a kippah and pierced earrings. I sarcastically observed that I was unaware that it had become permissible to pierce one’s ears, and asked “whose daughter are you?” She had NO IDEA what I was talking about. Oh, and to the genius that named itself “debbie is an idiot”: cehenneme git.

Suspicious person that I am, I notice they dated their letter 11/21, so it would arrive on the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, when everyone’s attention would be occupied by that, and this fraud would get minimum press.

But I wonder if they just found out about this. Maybe when they hired her they knew she was a fake, but they wanted a super-political-correct rabbi, and she fit the bill. Doesn’t political correctness trump everything else?

It also wouldn’t surprise me if they knew about this for some time, and decided not to do anything about it until something happened that forced them to. Just speculation, but I’ve been wondering.

BTW, is the counselor or counselors Jewish? And why, in a religious institution that supposedly is expected to counsel its congregants, do they need to get outside counselors? Isn’t that what religious leaders are supposed to do? Of course I’m being sarcastic, but it just shows the absurdity of this.

She’ll probably write a book, go on The View & CNN, and become a multi-millionaire — that she misrepresented her credentials, but only because of her overwhelming commitment to the Jewish faith.

Ahhhhh Foxman, I know the Stamford to Grand Central route pretty well, although not a regular rider. The friend I work for up in South Salem finds it more convenient to bring me back to the Katonah station rather than New Canaan.

Now Debbie, please be gentle with me, because I AM The Resident Dumb Blond(e), and I DO conform to the stereotype.

Let me see if I get this straight. Fake Rabbi, like when implants mean fake boobs, same thing, right? FAKE Rabbi, REAL Bar Mitzvah?!??!!!!???!!! Debbie, please explain to these people perhaps in American football terms, maybe they will understand. You are either tackled near the line of scrimmage for a one yard loss, OR you ran 38 yards through the defense for a touchdown. One CANNOT accomplish BOTH things on the same play. Just not possible.

OH WAIT, TO THE AMERICAN LEFT, 2 + 2 = 5.9, . . .

or 1.3, or 12.7.

Sorry, I should have realized. It’s over my head, like the liberals here love to tell people like me.

Well, when it comes down to it, you can’t trust or believe anything connected with obama. Even if for a PR or photo op’, all about deception, and in this case, using a fake rabbi. Their war room must be busy all the time. More of ” fooling the fools who follow him”. You can bet, that george soros and henry kissenger have their claws in the obama deceptions.

I usually agree fully with Ms. Schlussel’s point of view. But I am appalled by using this fake rabbi as a platform for a vicious attack on Reform and Conservative Judaism. My synagogue is Conservative, some of my family is modern Orthodox; I have friends and family who follow Chabad rabbis, some who identify as Reform Jews and some who are almost completely secular, including many of my Israeli friends. There is nothing but contempt and loathing behind Ms. Schlussel’s statements of “fake synagogues and fake rabbis” or “real women are not rabbis and real rabbis are not women”. I don’t know how Orthodox Ms. Schlussel is, but with her beautiful uncovered hair and her choice to have a career instead of being a stay at home wife and mother, she is certainly not Orthodox enough for many of the ultra Orthodox; and no doubt some of them look upon her with the same contempt that she reserves for Reform and Conservative Jews. Ms. Schlussel is entitled to her views about issues like gay marriage and her beliefs about how Judaism should be worshipped, but she is not entitled to spew hatred and ridicule on those who do not believe as she does. That is not the way of Torah. It is more the way of fundamentalists who encourage their followers to hang homosexuals, stone adulteresses and burn churches.

Oh, and which fundamentalists are these, JR? I haven’t heard too many speeches or read too many articles recently saying homosexuals should be hung, churches burnt, or adulteresses hung. Unless you are speaking here about Islam.

I’ve noticed this in a number of comments for this and other posts. Seeming rationality until you get to the end, and then the emotional virulence sneaks out.

That’s an extreme viewpoint of Debbie’s commentary, JR. Everything Debbie said is straight out of the Bible. The God of the Bible, the book Jews and Christians CLAIM to get their religion out of, did not appoint women to rule over men or instruct them in scripture. Debbie’s adherence to that point does not make her someone who would stone an adulteress or hang a gay person. Perhaps you missed the article wherein she noted that the celebrity Carrot Top is a friend of hers. Guy’s just a little bit “weird,” don’t you think? Yet Debbie doesn’t seem to mind befriending him, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Debbie is speaking in the pure sense of what God passed down to humans, and not placing herself above anyone in that article. She has every right to speak of God’s instructions to the human race on human behavior. Where in the Bible does it say it’s okay for people to cheat on their husbands/wives, or for a man to covet another man? Yet I love my gay friends just as much as my straight friends, and some of my best friends have been women whose moral fiber has been, ummm, “questionable.”

But I also am not going to support either in theory or practice militant assaults on the structure of society as God intended it, by pretending that all is well and good with any life style that humans undertake. I have friends with tattoos, something I abhor seeing on people. But I don’t tell them what the Bible says about tattoos when they show me an arm or part of their back or chest with a brand new piece of “artwork.”

People who take Debbie’s straightforward and occasionally blistering commentary on hypocrites and the ills of society as being representative of some sort of raging contempt are missing out on an educational process. They are also turning a blind eye and making excuses to much of what has brought the world, particularly American society, to its cultural knees. What I am referring to is the mass acceptance that what humans are capable of thinking of should immediately become part of what is known as the “norm.”

What’s next, nine year old girls being recruited by porn kings like Steven Hirsch? Would that be acceptable? Where are the limits? Anyone who thinks I am exaggerating needs to hark back to an old Temptations song, “Take A Look Around.” I have lived long enough to see things that supposedly could “never happen here” already happen.

Debbie is not spewing hatred and ridicule. She is spewing TRUTH. But of course, a human race that has gone buck wild is not going to want anyone spoiling their “fun.” I’ve been hearing that since the 60’s, nobody wants their fun spoiled. So, let’s just shut up, get in line and go along with it, right? EVERYTHING is acceptable, don’t rain on my parade.

“We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.”

“We’re fierce, we’re feminists, we’re in your face.”

And so it goes. Does anyone really think that when Debbie sits down to Passover Seder with the family, she immediately goes off on whichever family member broke a Commandment that week, or someone who may have made some other sort of life mistake ten years ago? The act of doing social and political commentary in the “blogosphere” is different than how one acts in polite society. I don’t think Debbie walks around looking at herself as being appointed by God to excoriate people around her for being imperfect.

I always explain to people who ask me that Reform and Conservative Judaism could be viewed as Judaism Light but that the truth was that there’s only one real Judaism… That being what’s now called Orthodox Judaism…

Let’s not forget, many centuries ago there was another Judaism Light… It’s first leader and all its original members were all Jewish… It’s now known as Christianity!…

Honestly, IMHO Judaism Light makes as much sense as Virginity Light… Can you really call yourself a virgin if you have done everything but vaginal sex?!… Same with Judaism Light, can you truly consider yourself a Jew if Kashrut, Shabbat and so forth are considered guidelines to be adapted to your own wants?!…

Alfredo – you missed my point entirely. You say: “Debbie is speaking in the ‘pure sense’ of what God passed down to humans, and not placing herself above anyone in that article. She has every right to speak of ‘God’s instructions’ to the human race on human behavior”. Who is to say which group among us really knows what God’s instructions are? Volumes have been written by biblical and rabbinical scholars on what “God says”, so there is no “pure sense”. And there are numerous very different Orthodox Jewish sects, each of which thinks they alone know what God really says and believe that the other sects are not following the right path. There is even a sect in Israel that believes that Israel should not exist until the Messiah comes, and carried placards when Ahmadinejad addressed the UN asking Iran to bomb Israel. Ms. Schlussel apparently considers whatever Orthodoxy she follows to be a correct interpretation of God’s instructions. And one of those instructions is that women cannot be rabbis, or as you put it, God “did not appoint women to rule over men”. But there are Jews more Orthodox than Ms. Schlussel who think she is breaking God’s rules by not covering her hair, by immodestly showing skin in a public photo and by being out in the world amongst men who are not related to her, rather than at home taking care of a family. Some of them would look upon Ms. Schlussel with the same contempt that she shows for Reform and Conservative Jews. Would it be acceptable for them to ridicule her and call her a “fake Jew” because according to THEIR interpretation she is not following God’s instructions?

God gave us clear cut instructions in the Bible for all that is important to our lives. When people get stuck on arguing over certain points of human behavior, it is Satan clouding our thinking and being up to his old tricks of confusing the human race in to the same old mess since the beginning of time. This is why I have said that the human condition is akin to a dog chasing its tail.

The Bible is not open to interpretation, it interprets itself. There are certain things in the Bible that even people within the same religious groups disagree strongly, as you properly point out, JR. So there we are, yet again, buffeted about by the winds of Satan, in our attempts to lead our lives in this period of what I often refer to as ‘basic training.’

The veil will not be lifted on human understanding until Jesus returns. The Bible says in that time ‘no longer will a man say to his brother, the word of The Lord, because the earth will be full of the knowledge of The Lord.’ Therefore disagreements, including very strong ones, will continue to exist, and we each must do the best we can.

As for Debbie and what others think of her, one need look no further than this web site to see that. People call her a lot worse than a “fake Jew,” and that is their right and privilege. When I first came to this web site about eleven months ago, I was aghast. I said surely this woman will have her head cut off on a live internet hookup some day because of the things she says. I have even stated that openly. I truly fear for her safety on a regular basis. But only ONE group operates in such a hostile fashion, and it is not any group Debbie belongs to.

But Debbie in all her bravery, slogs on through the muck that is this world, Satan’s world, until the time that God comes to enlighten us all. And He will enlighten us all, because only Jesus was 100%.

I disagree with Debbie on certain things, and there are times when I agree with Debbie, but disagree with her approach. And there are myriad times when I totally agree with her content and approach. I also think that people miss seeing Debbie has an incredible sense of humor. That can get lost at times.

A loving God will not let those who are truly His slip away. We will ALL be in need of some enlightenment, and perhaps even chastisement when Christ comes to install The Government of God. But after the elect are chosen for the government in the First Resurrection, eventually God will allow seemingly 80-90% of the human race to become citizens of His Eternal Kingdom. Only the most incorrigible will be left out, and I hardly see Debbie in that light.

Wherever Debbie needs to be spanked, God will do that. It’s my business to take my own spanking with a humble heart and willing mind. I think when Debbie is facing God Almighty during her Judgment session, she will submit herself to the malleability that God needs us all to acknowledge our need of in order for acceptance in to His Kingdom.

In the meantime, as long as Debbie isn’t actually hanging gays and funding groups who burn witches, I don’t see the problem. She’s far more educational, informative and just plain right on for me to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

And THAT lee, fits perfectly in with what I’m always saying about one of their most relevant, and perhaps best all around song by The Temptations, Ball Of Confusion. Because that’s what it will be until Jesus returns. And there’s nothing we can do but keep on keepin’ on, Debbie included.

No one was suggesting “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”, or criticizing Ms. Schlussel’s intellect or her ideas. Nor are we talking about standards of human behavior on which we can all agree – “do unto others”, “honor your parents”, “do not murder”, etc. The groups that Ms. Schlussel ridiculed are not guilty of any transgression of those. They are guilty of nothing other than worshipping in Reform or Conservative synagogues rather than Orthodox synagogues. When we don’t speak out against appalling derision of groups of people, simply because according to any one person or group of people, they are not worshipping “as God instructs”, we are remiss. This kind of intolerant scorn is the foundation for virulent hatred of “infidels” – those who don’t behave the way we in our supposed “superior knowledge” believe that God wants us to. As I said earlier – at its root, this intolerance is no different from the intolerance of fundamentalists who swath their women in burkhas and burn churches. Moreover. Ms. Schlussel doesn’t need to stoop to these depths to get her points across.

JR, Debbie rightly mocks “rabbis” who are not bound by halacha. Sorry, but rabbis really do have to conform to Jewish law. This isn’t that hard, as there is so much room for interpretation withn halacha.

Furthermore, while Debbie is hardly pro-gay, she has always treated me with kindness and respect. Thus, she complies with the most important requirement that Jews must fulfill.

Judaism is not up for grabs. There is room for change, but there is no room for change based on the PC notions of the day.

Debbie’s “derision” is well founded in my view. It is not unlike true prophets of God who gathered together the fake prophets at times in history, and called them out on whose God was better. Of course, true prophets of God had the upper hand, but those other guys, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, sure didn’t see it that way until The Lord worked mighty miracles, with them slashing themselves with their swords in anger, also tearing at their clothing.

This is why true prophets and apostles of The Lord have been so despised by a human race that has gotten further and further away from God as time wore on. There is no such thing as religion. God is who He is, and he desires obedience most of all. There is no religion in the Bible. Religion is made up by humans. I understand Hinduism was founded in 1699. So, then what? In the beginning, there were humans, and God was born in 1699?!??!!!!??!

The Bible is God speaking to the entire human race. He told Adam and Eve just like that Fleetwood Mac song, “you can go your own way.” Form your own societies, and before you screw up completely, I’ll visit your sorry asses and save y’all. Of course, God was born before Christine McVie, the oldest member of Fleetwood Mac. LOL!!!

Some day God will explain all.

In the meantime, I’m firmly with Debbie’s commentary on this one, and until He comes, I don’t get too deeply involved in what eventually turn out to be tiresome, non-productive discussions. JR and I have discussed our respective views on Debbie’s current article without bitter diatribes or personal attacks and for that I am thankful. To go any deeper in to it would be to imitate the dog chasing its tail.

We will never agree on this one, as billions of people will continue to disagree on billions of issues until He comes. It’s too bad such disagreements can’t all be discussed in peace.

The funniest part of the story to me is the fact that the “rabbi” was able to act as a rabbi for 5 years before someone figured out that she was never a rabbi!
AS far as JR and others are concerned, I believe that Debbie was not disparaging the uninformed Jews who attend reform and conservative places of worship. Debbie absolutely would agree that, as the Talmud says, “A Jew, even if he has sinned, is still a Jew.” What Debbie is certainly against are the movements that are aimed at fooling Jews who do not have the background and or knowledge to realize that they are being duped, and to their leaders who perpetuate such frauds on the Jewish public.

Listen, it’s a failure of leadership on the temple’s part not to verify credentials (for…the…love). And it’s the not-so-much-a-rabbi’s fault for being dishonest. People put their faith in leaders, whether the represent religious, scientific, political or organizational institutions.

However, it’s small-minded to politicize her dishonesty and correlate this with her politics/beliefs.

It’s 2013, people. Your use of the internet to communicate proves that you are willing to move past what the bible or torah implores us to do and actually evolve. If that’s the case, realize that ‘liberal’ politics are no worse (or frankly better) than any other form of politics.

The republicans continue to rely on fear tactics to keep people from voting because most of the country actually believes all people should be treated equally–access and rights for all (including women, gay people, people of color) is what god (or Jesus or whomever) wants or want. If the conservative movement (political or religious) wasn’t scared, then those leading it would be a bit more confident and reasonable in their approach.

So yeah, she lied and the leadership at Temple Beth El acted irresponsibly. Everyone should be embarrassed. But using this as an excuse to rail upon The Liberals?! C’mon. Exercise some critical thinking.

There is a clear relationship though, between liberalism and the falsification of Rabbinic credentials.

Liberals, for a number of decades, have disparaged religion, trying to eliminate it from as many public spheres as possible. They have raised all kinds of other ideas, beliefs and philosophies to replace as much of religion as possible.

In such an environment, religion inevitably becomes trivialized, and the religious aspects of Rabbinical duties become more and more minor, and in extreme cases, quite likely at Beth El, even become trivialized.

Thus, the downplaying of religious heritage goes hand-in-hand with a tolerance of weak, or in extreme cases, virtually non-existent religious education. This is consistent with all too many Reform and Conservative synagogues subordinating religion to politics or cultural life-style issues. How else could you have non-Jews leading religious services?

Your second-to-last paragraph is really irrelevant to the topic at hand.

“The republicans continue to rely on fear tactics to keep people from voting because most of the country actually believes all people should be treated equally–access and rights for all (including women, gay people, people of color) is what god (or Jesus or whomever) wants or want. ”

Jeez LG, when are YOU gonna wake up and see the narrative for “Republicans” that you are erroneously following is a bunch of CRAP? I figured it out in the 90s…what is taking YOU so long? You couldn’t start “critical thinking” if you had a brain transplant. Your whole rant is a Libtard apologia because you can’t open your own sad eyes.

Republican fear mongering? PUH-LEEZE. I wish the Master Class GOP would do that. They are too wimpy and cowed to even *THINK* about fear mongering. Did you not see the Debt Ceiling cave? And who did the fear mongering there? Guards placed at places where there are NEVER any guards…people locked out of their own private homes on Gubmint land. You’re boring AND ill-informed!

EVERYONE has Constitutional Rights, Libtarded Git. This is America. If you’re so hung up on “equal” you should read “Animal Farm” (Some animals are more equal than others”) and I hope you’re in high dudgeon that Obama-Putin and his frightening family of ghouls are going to not have EQUAL health care but BETTER than the rest? Never heard you whinge about that inequality. (Or his Wookie wife sending poor families away from Chicago Uni Hospital so they could cater to the more wealthy folks…that doesn’t sound so bloody equal and she’s a Donk!!!)

“If the conservative movement (political or religious) wasn’t scared, then those leading it would be a bit more confident and reasonable in their approach.”

Well gee, you just admitted what you pretended you didn’t know. Who are they afraid of LG? Open your eyes…It’s the dirty-playing Donks. Who play dirty (and you stand behind this…) and win every time. Did you miss Harry Reid and his goon squad chucking a Legislative procedure in standing for over centuries? That must have meant you missed the same crew CRYING about the GOP *THINKING* about doing it in 2005 (they never DID!). Who will listen to a know-nothing like you????

“So yeah, she lied and the leadership at Temple Beth El acted irresponsibly. Everyone should be embarrassed. But using this as an excuse to rail upon The Liberals?! C’mon. Exercise some critical thinking.”

Libtarded to the end, right or wrong. You want to protect Libtards because you are pathetically one. You don’t give two sh**s about right or wrong. THAT is why no one should listen to a lemming, ill-informed Libtard like YOU.

Go back to the Lady Junk-Junk blog, Libtarded Git. She needs the CD sales and that’s the speed of your broken brain.

Libtarded Git, I didn’t even touch on the Donks and their known voter fraud (why do you think I call Obama, Obama-Putin?????) but you are profoundly wrong and maybe someone else here who knows what a goose you are can tackle that and shove it down your throat like fois gras….

I too, take offence at your criticism of Reform and Conservative Judaism as not being authentic. What does it accomplish to question the validity of movements with which you disagree? We are a people so few in numbers, that internal bickering and disagreement only serves to strengthen our enemies. If other branches of Judaism are not your cup of tea, they still allow some people to feel a part of the Jewish family, to recognize we have a higher purpose in life, and to work to make this world a better place. Leave it to some of the orthodox, isolationist rabbis to pass judgement on fellow Jews. Remember that even among traditional Judaism there can be those who observe the mitzvoth and pray multiple times a day but don’t have the time of day for other human beings in need. Or speak with disdain about others.
Am Yisrael Chai

Allen, your comment reminds me a little of those Blacks who say that Blacks should never criticize Blacks publicly, since it will only benefit their ‘White enemies’. While you do not go to such extremes, your comments seem to accept that philosophy to at least some extent.

If a religion, or branch of a religion has any merit at all, it should be able to withstand criticism. Isn’t that what free speech is all about?

But there’s another issue involved as well. Reform Jewry has never been bashful about criticizing the Evil Orthodox. This has been especially true given recent surveys and projections about the growth of Orthodox Jews, and their recent emergency as New York Jewry’s largest grouping. Although I, myself, am not Orthodox, it is irksome for me to see the Reform movement criticize Orthodox Jews on a never-ending basis (and a huge amount of their criticism is petty and incorrect) and then complain when the tables are turned.

Skzion, sincerely apologize for the awful things I said to you a couple of months back. I was totally out of line and while it’s common to analyze why we do things out of character, I have no excuse and won’t try to make one to you. I hope you will forgive me.

Also, I am going to just use my first, real name from now on. I am not good at these “handles” and shouldn’t even try.

“Libtarded to the end, right or wrong. You want to protect Libtards because you are pathetically one. You don’t give two sh**s about right or wrong. THAT is why no one should listen to a lemming, ill-informed Libtard like YOU.”

“foolish Dhimmi (Your sort can be even worse than the Mooooslims) who reaches into your filthy underwear to show the world the poo poo you made”

… hundreds of other

I don’t have to present my POV because you do it for me. You mock yourself. 8th grade intellectuals unite!

Mia Coxwellen the Jewvenile Idiot Dhimmi Swine with the Small Penis on November 25, 2013 at 7:47 pm